COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Traditional big bowl day has solid matchups

Published: Friday, January 1, 2010 at 2:09 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 1, 2010 at 2:09 a.m.

LOS ANGELES - Although Terrelle Pryor always has flash in his game, he went a little bit Hollywood this week.

While enjoying the sun and diversions of southern California, the Ohio State quarterback sometimes sported black-framed eyeglasses that don't contain prescription lenses.

Don't worry, Buckeyes fans: Pryor can see very clearly what must happen Friday for Ohio State (10-2) to end its three-game bowl skid against the high-flying Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl.

"We're going to have to score points, maybe a lot of points," Pryor said. "When you play a team that scores like Oregon, you've got to be ready to keep up. There could be a lot of points on that scoreboard."

Jeremiah Masoli is counting on it. The Oregon quarterback is the ringmaster of a spread offense that racked up more than 37 points and 424 yards per game this season while the No. 7 Ducks (10-2) ended USC's seven-year run atop the Pac-10. Oregon is in the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1995.

"To finally get back to the Rose Bowl satisfied a lot of wishes by a lot of people," Masoli said. "We had that as our goal from the first week of this year. Now that we're finally here, we want to prove to ourselves that we can keep it going, take that one last step."

The contrast of eighth-ranked Ohio State's traditional crimson-and-gray against Oregon's latest ethereal uniform creation is just one intriguing aspect of the 96th Rose Bowl - a match-up of strikingly dissimilar programs in Pasadena.

Capital One Bowl

ORLANDO - The stereotypes emerge every time a Big Ten school meets an SEC program in the postseason: the plodding behemoths from up North can't keep up with the speedsters from down South.

Joe Paterno will take his chances today when No. 11 Penn State (10-2) meets No. 13 LSU (9-3) in the Capital One Bowl.

Sure, he's worried about LSU's speed. But old-school Paterno is focusing more on taking care of the little things that can turn a game.

"I've never been a guy for generalizations, and that's a media generalization," Paterno said about perceptions of the style of play in the Big Ten and SEC. "It's a football game. Who puts the ball on the ground, who gets penalties in key situations, things like that" matter more.

JoePa should know - he is the all-time leader in bowl wins with 23. He's also major college football's winningest coach with 393 victories, including two national titles.

LSU coach Les Miles is no slouch either. He led the Tigers to the 2007 national title after speeding past Ohio State, Penn State's Big Ten nemesis, 38-24, for one of four straight bowl victories for the Tigers under Miles.

"We do some good things ... but I don't think there's any magic," Miles said about LSU's success.

Paterno vs. Miles. Big Ten powerhouse vs. SEC powerhouse. It's one of the most attractive matchups on the postseason schedule outside of the BCS.

The Capital One Bowl also pits two schools that fell short of the high expectations that come from their large and rabid fan bases. It can be disappointing for die-hard followers on both sides if their teams aren't in the national title hunt.

Outback Bowl

TAMPA - More than three years after the death of coach Randy Walker, the Northwestern Wildcats are still drawing inspiration from him.

Today's Outback Bowl will be the final game for a group of fifth-year seniors who were part of the last recruiting class to begin their careers under Walker. He died in June 2006 of an apparent heart attack after laying a foundation for continued success.

Four seasons later, the Wildcats (8-4) are playing on New Year's Day for the first time in over a decade, hoping to upset favored Auburn (7-5) to end a 61-year drought without a bowl victory.

<p>LOS ANGELES - Although Terrelle Pryor always has flash in his game, he went a little bit Hollywood this week.</p><p>While enjoying the sun and diversions of southern California, the Ohio State quarterback sometimes sported black-framed eyeglasses that don't contain prescription lenses.</p><p>Don't worry, Buckeyes fans: Pryor can see very clearly what must happen Friday for Ohio State (10-2) to end its three-game bowl skid against the high-flying Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl.</p><p>"We're going to have to score points, maybe a lot of points," Pryor said. "When you play a team that scores like Oregon, you've got to be ready to keep up. There could be a lot of points on that scoreboard."</p><p>Jeremiah Masoli is counting on it. The Oregon quarterback is the ringmaster of a spread offense that racked up more than 37 points and 424 yards per game this season while the No. 7 Ducks (10-2) ended USC's seven-year run atop the Pac-10. Oregon is in the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1995.</p><p>"To finally get back to the Rose Bowl satisfied a lot of wishes by a lot of people," Masoli said. "We had that as our goal from the first week of this year. Now that we're finally here, we want to prove to ourselves that we can keep it going, take that one last step."</p><p>The contrast of eighth-ranked Ohio State's traditional crimson-and-gray against Oregon's latest ethereal uniform creation is just one intriguing aspect of the 96th Rose Bowl - a match-up of strikingly dissimilar programs in Pasadena.</p><p><b>Capital One Bowl</b></p><p>ORLANDO - The stereotypes emerge every time a Big Ten school meets an SEC program in the postseason: the plodding behemoths from up North can't keep up with the speedsters from down South.</p><p>Joe Paterno will take his chances today when No. 11 Penn State (10-2) meets No. 13 LSU (9-3) in the Capital One Bowl.</p><p>Sure, he's worried about LSU's speed. But old-school Paterno is focusing more on taking care of the little things that can turn a game.</p><p>"I've never been a guy for generalizations, and that's a media generalization," Paterno said about perceptions of the style of play in the Big Ten and SEC. "It's a football game. Who puts the ball on the ground, who gets penalties in key situations, things like that" matter more.</p><p>JoePa should know - he is the all-time leader in bowl wins with 23. He's also major college football's winningest coach with 393 victories, including two national titles.</p><p>LSU coach Les Miles is no slouch either. He led the Tigers to the 2007 national title after speeding past Ohio State, Penn State's Big Ten nemesis, 38-24, for one of four straight bowl victories for the Tigers under Miles.</p><p>"We do some good things ... but I don't think there's any magic," Miles said about LSU's success.</p><p>Paterno vs. Miles. Big Ten powerhouse vs. SEC powerhouse. It's one of the most attractive matchups on the postseason schedule outside of the BCS.</p><p>The Capital One Bowl also pits two schools that fell short of the high expectations that come from their large and rabid fan bases. It can be disappointing for die-hard followers on both sides if their teams aren't in the national title hunt.</p><p><b>Outback Bowl</b></p><p>TAMPA - More than three years after the death of coach Randy Walker, the Northwestern Wildcats are still drawing inspiration from him.</p><p>Today's Outback Bowl will be the final game for a group of fifth-year seniors who were part of the last recruiting class to begin their careers under Walker. He died in June 2006 of an apparent heart attack after laying a foundation for continued success.</p><p>Four seasons later, the Wildcats (8-4) are playing on New Year's Day for the first time in over a decade, hoping to upset favored Auburn (7-5) to end a 61-year drought without a bowl victory.</p>